Why did the system take my request to take photos with a cosplayer seriously?

Su Wan was speechless.

What can she do?

The competitive landscape on this street is what it is, and she's not some business genius. Zhao Yanxi had already tried all the tricks she could think of, and even big stars didn't work.

The only reason she didn't want the shop to close was... because the job was too comfortable!

The pay is decent, the workload is light, the boss is easy to talk to, and there aren't many customers. You can spend an afternoon scrolling through your phone while ordering a cup of milk tea.

I've been working here for almost half a year, and I've even developed a biological clock for my afternoon naps.

Could you find another company in Xingcheng that offers this kind of job?

Moreover, besides her official salary, she also has other small sources of income...

Zhao Yanxi smiled.

She could guess what Su Wan was thinking, but she didn't intend to break off relations.

In her opinion, Su Wan had indeed been working diligently and efficiently over the past six months, never slacking off, and the store's daily operations were entirely supported by her.

She might have her own little schemes, but as long as she didn't actually do anything outrageous, she didn't want to dwell on it.

"I understand..."

Zhao Yanxi said wearily, "But I really don't have the energy to keep going! Besides, didn't I tell you to leave immediately? I'll keep the shop open throughout the first semester of your senior year, and you'll still be paid. That'll give you enough time to find new jobs and avoid a gap in your income. What do you think?"

Xiao Chao and Xiao Li nodded vigorously almost simultaneously.

"The boss is so nice!"

"The boss is generous."

Su Wan was a beat behind, her expression complex, but she still managed to say something in the end.

"Thank you, boss..."

"Okay, go ahead and get busy."

Zhao Yanxi waved her hand.

The three of them went their separate ways, and there wasn't much to do.

Zhao Yanxi rubbed her temples, trying to catch her breath, when Wen Jing spoke softly beside her.

"Yan hope, don't you think Su Wan is a little strange?"

"What's strange?"

"Well...she should know better than anyone how much money this store is losing, so why does she still insist on persuading you to keep it open?"

Wenjing said angrily, "If I were her, knowing that the boss was losing money and trying to keep the business afloat, I definitely wouldn't have the nerve to ask him to continue."

Zhao Yanxi slumped back: "I can understand. It's hard to find a job these days. With only a high school diploma, what good job can she find in Xingcheng? I have less work and the pay is good. If I were in her shoes, I wouldn't want to leave either."

"I think it's not just about work."

Wenjing hesitated, then said, "How about... I help you look at the store's accounts? After all, I studied accounting."

"You decide what to do; it's only the last few months anyway."

Zhao Yanxi didn't care at all; she was still pondering her master's "task."

She suddenly changed the subject, her tone becoming erratic.

"By the way, Xiaojing, aren't we sisters?"

Wenjing was taken aback by her seemingly random question.

"Nonsense, we grew up together, is there even a need to ask?"

"So you and I like the same man... don't you mind?"

"what?"

Wenjing looked bewildered: "Yanxi, are you out of your mind? We've been together for three years, and you're only asking me now if I mind? If I minded, I would have minded long ago, why would I wait until today?"

No, that's not what I meant.

Zhao Yanxi began to organize her thoughts again: "I mean, since you don't mind me being with you... then wouldn't you also..."

She didn't finish her sentence.

"boss!"

Su Wan served two cups of coffee and gently placed them in front of Zhao Yanxi and Wen Jing, then spoke regretfully.

"This is a new recipe from a certain company that I recently learned secretly. I was planning to surprise you after I finished testing it, but since you're here today, why don't you try it first?"

Zhao Yanxi picked up her coffee, took a sip, and said perfunctorily, "Okay, it's pretty good. Go ahead and put it on the shelves. We'll sell as many as we can in the next few months."

Su Wan didn't leave, and tentatively asked again, "Boss, are you really planning to close the shop? Actually, I think..."

"It's still early."

Zhao Yanxi put down her cup, her tone finally becoming slightly more serious: "You go ahead and do your thing, I know what I'm doing."

Seeing this, Su Wan didn't dare to say anything more and awkwardly turned back to the bar.

Zhao Yanxi looked at Wenjing: "Where was I?"

"You asked me if I mind liking the same man as you."

"Yes, yes, yes..."

Zhao Yanxi took a deep breath, just as she was about to muster the courage to ask the question—her phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID, pursed her lips, and answered.

"Hello? Mom... Yes, I understand... Okay, I'll try to go back home in the next couple of days... Alright, bye."

After hanging up the phone, Wenjing asked.

"what's up?"

"What else could it be?"

Zhao Yanxi put her phone back in her pocket: "Let me go back and check on my grandfather. He was just hospitalized today. It's not anything serious, just that he's getting old and has all sorts of minor ailments."

"That's perfect."

Wenjing picked up her bag and stood up: "I don't have anything else to do today, so I'll go with you."

Zhao Yanxi was stunned: "You'll come back with me?"

"What, it's not okay?"

"No, let's go."

The two walked out of the coffee shop one after the other.

Su Wan stood behind the bar, watching the two figures disappear through the glass door before slowly turning her gaze away.

Instead of going to work, she stood there in a daze for a while, then turned on the store's public computer and logged into her accounting software account.

His expression tightened instantly, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

……

Zhuzhou City First People's Hospital.

The old lady was in good spirits, leaning against the headboard watching opera videos. When she saw her granddaughter, she happily invited her to sit down.

Zhao Yanxi's mother, Zhou Rongmei, was peeling an apple on the edge of the bed. When she saw her daughter come in, she first habitually muttered, "You've lost weight again," and "Have you not been eating properly again?" Then the topic naturally turned to Zhao Yanxi's coffee shop.

How's your shop doing these days?

"It's fine as it is."

Zhao Yanxi sat down on the edge of the bed, snatched the apple her mother had peeled, and took a bite: "It's not very good, we're losing money, we're planning to close down the shop."

Zhou Rongmei didn't get angry, but just sighed: "I told you young people are unreliable when it comes to opening shops! Take it easy, don't keep squandering Xiao Ding's money. He's a college student, money doesn't grow on trees."

Zhao Yanxi laughed when she heard this: "Mom, he's not even your official son-in-law yet, why are you taking his side?"

"It's only a matter of time."

Zhou Rongmei rolled her eyes at her, then turned to ask Wenjing.

"Little Jingjing, don't you think so?"

"what?"

Wenjing was suddenly called out, so she could only smile awkwardly and say, "Is...is that right?"

Zhao Yanxi sighed inwardly and subtly changed the subject.

It was already 2 PM when I left the hospital.

Zhou Rongmei had one more class to teach, so she asked Zhao Yanxi to drive her back to school.

On the bus, three women—one older and two younger—were chatting casually.

Zhou Rongmei, sitting in the back seat, suddenly leaned forward as if she remembered something.

"By the way, Wenjing, your younger sister, Wenshu, right? How's she doing at Peking University?"

"pretty good."

Wenjing gripped the steering wheel tightly, her eyes fixed straight ahead: "She's quick-witted and gets along quite well at school."

"That's great! Every student in your Wen family is incredibly talented. How come I didn't realize that back then?"

Zhou Rongmei clicked her tongue twice, regretting that she had missed out on promising students from Tsinghua and Peking Universities.

Then the gossip started: "I heard she's dating someone? Is it true?"

Before Wenjing could react, Zhao Yanxi suddenly turned her head.

"Mom, where did you hear this gossip?"

“Her high school teacher told me that her former vocational high school homeroom teacher was very familiar with me! We ran into each other on the street last time and chatted for a bit. He said that everyone in her class group was saying that Wenshu had found a great boyfriend at Peking University.”

"This……"

Wenjing said with difficulty, "I don't know too much about Xiaoshu's situation either. She's an adult and has her own ideas, and she doesn't talk to me about some things."

"It's normal for young people to date."